Dak Bunglow – Almora Homestay

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The Dak Bungalow (Bangla) at Peora is a magnificent old British inspection bungalow built in 1905 along the silk route, on what was the Kathgodam-Almora-Bageshwar bridle road. After years of dilapidation, the bungalow was leased by Pradeep & Shubha from the District Board in 2005, and refurbished as a homestay. Its original architecture, walls, fireplaces, wooden ceilings and grand verandas were retained, offering an indulgence in colonial royalty, homely hospitality & panoramic Himalayan views.

Nature enthusiasts, bird lovers & photographers will find enough to feast their eyes on, from the colors of the Blue Magpie, to countryside village walks through colorful pine forests, to the fascinating night sky with myriad stars and lights of the Almora town across the valley. The more adventurous can trek into the surrounding mountains, building their own trails.

This Almora homestay has 3 rooms with attached bathrooms and the tariff ranges from Rs.2500 to Rs.3500/- for one bedroom per night.

almora weather

25 C

Tue

20 C

15 C

Wed

19 C

14 C

Thu

23 C

13 C

Fri

17 C

11 C

Sat

15 C

11 C

Sun

16 C

11 C

Mon

13 C

10 C

Rooms 3 rooms

Accommodation is provided in two suites and one double room at the Dak Bungalow. Each room retains its British architecture and colonial ambiance, with a fireplace and wooden ceilings. The rooms are spacious and comfortably furnished with double beds & quilts for the typically chilly nights in the region, and a small kitchenette with gas & basic utensils. Western-styled bathrooms are attached, and hot water is provided through a heating rod. The rooms open up onto a grand veranda, cosily furnished with lounging chairs, overlooking the valley below and the mountains beyond. On clear days, peaks of Nanda Devi, Trishul and many others are amply visible from the veranda.

Food Indian and Continental cuisine

Simple home-made breakfast, lunch & dinner can be provided on request, and sharing a meal with your hosts while hearing stories of their lives in the mountains in an essential part of the Dak Bungalow experience. Breakfast typically consists of Indian or continental dishes, and Shubha’s Aloo-Tikki burgers are a specialty. Lunch & dinner is simple, delicious Indian or Continental vegetarian fare, made from seasonal vegetables. Neighbouring orchards are a source for plums, apricots, peaches, pears, and apples in summer, and lemons and Malta orange in winter. Home-made jams and jellies, and fruit leathers are a speciality here! You also have the option of cooking your own meals using the kitchen facilities available in your room. For lunch, you can walk up to one of the small roadside shops and ask for food, which is prepared freshly on order.

Hosts Mrs. Shubha and Mr. Pradeep Gupta

Pradeep & Shubha moved to the mountains of Kumaon in 2003, to work with Aarohi, an NGO dedicated to the causes of education, healthcare & livelihoods in the region. The Dak Bungalow homestay is an effort to conserve its ancient British architecture, and offer travellers a colonial experience amid the Himalayas. Pradeep & Shubha personally host all guests.

Suggested Activity #1 Bird Watching

Nature enthusiasts, bird lovers & photographers will find enough to feast their eyes on, from the colors of the Blue Magpie, to countryside village walks through colourful pine forests, to the fascinating night sky with myriad stars and lights of the Almora town across the valley.

Suggested Activity #2 Hiking/ Trekking

The more adventurous can trek into the surrounding mountains, building their own trails as the Kumaon belt of Uttarakhand, majestically nestled in the Himalayas, is littered with several small mountain villages with enchanting views of the snow-clad Nanda Devi & Trishul peaks.

Suggested Activity #3 Picnic in the forest

Peora is a small Kumaoni hamlet with traditional tiled-roof village huts sparsely scattered on the slopes of its contoured valleys, surrounded by dense pine forests. Mountain life in this region revolves around fruit cultivation, including apple, chestnut, walnut, plum, peach, apricot and pear. The host can arrange a day out to Picnic in the forest.

Suggested Activity #3 Volunteering at the local NGO

Various long-term volunteering opportunities are available at Aarohi, a local NGO neighbouring Satoli where the hosts, Pradeep & Shubha, are a part of.